By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE: A South African businessman who helped and accommodated an alleged Liswati illegal immigrant who made a live audio, falsely accusing senior leaders of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) in the murder of ex-warder Bheka Magagula, is allegedly worried that, the looming defamation and/or crimen injuria case might attract unnecessary attention for him.

Crimen injuria is a crime under South African common law, defined as the act of "unlawfully, intentionally, and seriously impairing the dignity of another person.  

“When he read your first story where you disclosed that, PUDEMO leaders might open a case, he was very worried because as a businessperson you don’t want to be associated with people who might attract unnecessary attention for you such that,even if you have your business secrets, you might find yourself appearing in newspapers and others will start focusing on you. He was assisting this boy out of his good heart with accommodation and even after removing him from his own house saying he must not do the LIVE videos and insult people inside his home, he continued to assist him with rent where he is staying now. So nakabona ubhalile utsite “uyabona-ke ngamtjela lomfana”, said a source very close to the businessman when speaking to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.

The Liswati alleged illegal immigrant is residing around Tonga, a few kilometers away from the Mananga Boarder, he has been working with a political leader who has been fighting PUDEMO for sometime now, doing live videos and making unfounded allegations and accusations.

The alleged illegal immigrant recently made a live audio, saying he conducted his own investigation, he then named all those he said killed the ex-warder and subsequently deleted the audio video after learning that legal action might be taken against him.

But the audio was already downloaded by the insulted PUDEMO leaders to strengthen the case.

A lawyer who is also part of those working on the matter confirmed that a case “is being prepared but said, he was not ready” to publicly comment about it pending further meetings.

“You can write as we are working on it but, I cannot be on record confirming it for now because I’m yet to hold several meetings on this matter. So ngeke kulunge sitsi sikhuluma babe sebabona ngikhuluma ngayo emaphepheni”, said the lawyer.

It has been disclosed that, the assassination is vigorously being investigated by the South African police and the leaders of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) want the alleged illegal immigrant who claim to have information to be summoned to the Police Station and share the information so that the killers could be arrested.

Reached for comments on Wednesday morning, Brian Sangweni, the PUDEMO Spokesperson said even though the matter hasn’t officially reached his office, it would be appropriate for all the PUDEMO leaders to open a case with the South African Police Service so that those who spread information about them could account before the law.

“You will recall that, after the poisoning of our President, we didnt go to social media to accuse others, we reported to the police and the poisoning of our President is being investigated because, we understood that, a criminal matter must be handled by the police, we want the suspect behind bars. Even in the assassination of Bheka Magagula, as a movement we are saddened by the killing of freedom fighters and we want justice and anyone who claim to have information to assist the police. So the PUDEMO leaders who were falsely accused will be doing justice by reporting a case to the police because such a sensitive issue cannot be ignored, this will teach others a lesson to always consider reporting to the police if they have information on such sensitive matters instead of using social media to scandalize others”,said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.

Efforts are being made to contact the company where the alleged Liswati illegal immigrant is allegedly employed in South Africa.

The name of the Liswati cannot be revealed for now as the matter is being handled at the law enforcement level.